Menís Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week Ė No. 6

Lawrence and DeJongh nab weekly men's outdoor track & field honors

April 25, 2012

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By Jake Knabel, NAIA Communications & Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ethan DeJongh of Fresno Pacific (Calif.) has been honored as the NAIA National Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of The Week and B.J. Lawrence of Doane (Neb.) has been named the NAIA National Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of The Week, the national office announced Wednesday. DeJongh and Lawrence were selected based on their performances from April 16 – 22. Both athletes have now won at least two weekly awards dating back to the indoor season. Lawrence earned outdoor track honors on April 11 and also took indoor track honors back on Jan. 25. DeJongh received indoor field honors on Feb. 15.

DeJongh, a junior from Visalia, Calif., rose above a talented field of 22 triple jumpers at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific (Calif.) on April 20. His mark of 53’ 4 ½” finished second to only an unattached performer and topped all collegiate participants. His triple jump measurement is the best in the NAIA this season and the 16th-best in the United States at any level, including college and professional ranks.

Lawrence, a junior from Omaha, Neb., also put forth a world-class performance while winning three events at the Doane (Neb.) Relays on April 21. His NAIA top time of 10.12 in the 100-meter dash bested a field of 21 and qualified him for the 2012 London Olympics with the seventh-fastest time in the world this year. Lawrence also took first in the 200-meter dash (20.62) and was part of the Tigers’ first-place 4x100-meter relay (40.78) team.